Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Drugs

| Avonex | Betaseron | Betaferon | Copaxone | Rebif |

 

Betaseron ® (interferon beta-1b)

What is Betaseron ®?

Betaseron ® is a drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is from a class of drugs known as interferons. In Europe, Betaseron ® is called Betaferon ®.

Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is a recombinant DNA produced synthetic of naturally occurring proteins. It is manufactured by bacterial fermentation of a strain of Escherichia coli that bears a genetically engineered plasmid containing the gene for human interferon.

Interferons are cytokines. Three major classes of interferon have been identified - interferon alpha, interferon beta and interferon gamma.

Interferon alpha and beta form the Type I class of interferons and Interferon gamma is a Type II interferon.

Indicated and approved for use in multiple sclerosis are interferon types, Interferon beta-1a and Interferon beta-1b.

Interferons are species specific. In other words, the effects and results of interferon therapy and animal experimentation is difficult to apply across the human-animal species barriers since the effects they have within any given species are different.

The mechanisms by which Betaseron ® exerts its actions in multiple sclerosis (MS) are not clearly understood.

Betaseron ® is administered by subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin) every other day.

 

 

 

Multiple Sclerosis

2002 – A patient with Multiple Sclerosis can expect to live to average population life-expectancy minus seven years (mean life expectancy - 7 years).

Cause of Multiple Sclerosis

The cause of multiple sclerosis remains a mystery. Many different causes have been proposed and investigated but as yet the cause of multiple sclerosis remains elusive... Read More